Find Your Degree

To help prospective students with their search for a low-cost bachelor’s degree, we researched the tuition and fees of all the residential computer science bachelor’s programs from four-year U.S. schools that were accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET).

ABET is the top accreditation organization for higher education programs in the fields of applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. Currently, there are 282 four-year institutions with a bachelor program in computer science accredited by ABET.

To compare the programs by cost, we estimated the yearly tuition and fees for an out-of-state freshman with zero credits attending in the 2017-18 academic year and then graduating in four years.

We excluded the three federal service academies with ABET accreditation (United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy) from our ranking because of their unique nature. For individuals who desire to serve the nation, these academies are viable options because they offer an excellent education at the lowest cost ($0 in tuition and fees).

Based on our research, here are the 30 most affordable programs. Along with accreditation from ABET, all 30 programs are also regionally accredited.

Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) is a public, coeducational, historically black university located in Leflore County, Mississippi, one mile from the city of Itta Bena. The school tied for 44th place in the 2017 ranking of historically black colleges and universities by U.S. News and World Report (U.S. News).

Program Overview

MVSU offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with two tracks to choose from: computer science and information science. Students in the computer science track enroll in an extra calculus class and learn about the Java programming language and numerical analysis. On the other hand, students in the information science track learn to program in Visual Basic and take extra business courses including a financial accounting class.

The degree program is inexpensive because nonresidents pay the same tuition and fees as Mississippi residents.

University of Southern Mississippi, also known as Southern Miss, was founded in 1910. It is a coeducational, public, research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The institution is classified as a doctoral university with higher research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education (CCIHE).

Program Overview

Southern Miss’ Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a 124 semester hour program that prepares students for professional careers and graduate school. Students take classes about computer architecture, object-oriented programming, and software design.

The University tied for 220th in U.S. News’ 2017 rankings of national universities. Among public schools in the group, Southern Miss tied for 125th. In Washington Monthly’s 2016 rankings of national universities, Southern Miss placed 192nd.

Brigham Young University, or BYU, is a private research institution of higher education affiliated with the LDS Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and located in Provo, Utah. are in the category of Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from BYU has a wide variety of elective courses including Designing the User Experience, Large-Scale Distributed System Design, and Tools for Machine Learning.

In its 2017 higher education book, The Princeton Review included BYU in the following lists: The Best 381 Colleges, Best Western, Top 50 – Colleges That Pay You Back (18th place), Best-Run Colleges, and Colleges That Pay You Back w/o Aid.

The estimated annual tuition and fees for baptized members of the LDS Church is $5,460.

South Dakota State University, also known as SDSU, is a public, coeducational, research university situated in Brookings, South Dakota. The institution is categorized by CCIHE as a doctoral university with higher research activity. SDSU was ranked 234th in Washington Monthly’s 2016 list of top national universities.

Program Overview

Students in SDSU’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program take hardware courses along with programming and software engineering courses to understand the interaction between hardware and software. The program ends with two capstone courses where each student is placed on a team to build a significant software project.

SDSU placed 202nd in U.S. News’ 2017 rankings of national universities.

South Dakota residents pay around $8,442 per year for tuition and fees. Minnesota residents pay approximately $9,330 through the state’s reciprocity program.

Southeast Missouri State University, commonly known as Southeast, is a public university in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school tied for 103rd place in U.S. News’ 2017 ranking for the category of Regional Universities Midwest. Among public schools in the category, Southeast ranked 29th.

Program Overview

Southeast offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science that teaches students proficiency in a modern programming language. Core courses include Computer Systems and Data Communications.

The school provides a good education relative to its cost, according to Washington Monthly’s 2016 school rankings. In the publisher’s list of Best Bang for the Buck – Midwest Colleges, Southeast was ranked 71st. Also, the University was named a top school in the Midwest in The Princeton Review’s 2017 college guide.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a public state university that is located Edwardsville, Illinois. The University placed 63rd in the 2017 Regional Universities Midwest ranking of U.S. News. SIUE ranked 59th in Washington Monthly’s 2016 list of top 100 master’s universities.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from SIUE teaches students about web system development, human-computer interaction design, and algorithms. Also, students customize their education by choosing five electives from a set of 10 computing courses. In the last couple of years, 80-90% of graduates in the program have received job offers with annual salaries above $55,000 before graduation day.

SIUE’s education costs are lower than most schools because out-of-state students pay the same tuition and fees as in-state students.

Missouri State University (MSU) is a public state university in Springfield, Missouri. The school tied for 71st place in U.S. News’ 2017 list of top regional universities in the Midwest. Among public schools on the list, MSU tied for 16th place.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a computer science option from MSU is a 125-hour program that prepares students to succeed in the workplace. Students learn how to code in Python and C++, two widely used programming languages. They are also exposed to databases, parallel computing, and internet programming.

Missouri residents get a discount on annual tuition and fees. They pay an estimated $7,060 per year. Entering freshmen that meet academic requirements may qualify for a renewable waiver of nonresident tuition and fees.

Established in 1857, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is a public, coeducational university located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. The school has a student to faculty ratio of 18 to 1 and 90% of the faculty have terminal degrees in their field of study.

Program Overview

Students in Edinboro’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (Theoretical Track) learn the fundamentals of the field with classes about programming, discrete math, operating systems, and data communications. 120 semester credit hours are required to complete the program.

The Mathematics and Computer Science Department maintains a computer lab where students can program in C++, Visual Basic, and Lisp on Linux and Unix machines.

Pennsylvania residents get a discount in tuition and fees. They pay an estimated $9,985 annually, a savings of $4,239.

Founded in 1907, University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is a public research school located in Conway, Arkansas. It was rated 72nd in U.S. News’ 2017 list of top regional universities in the South. Among public institutions in the group, UCA ranked 24th.

Program Overview

UCA’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science consists of classes about assembly language, object-oriented software development, and database systems. In Washington Monthly’s 2016 college guide, the university placed 73rd in the group of schools classified as Best Bang for the Buck – Southern Colleges.

The estimated annual tuition and fees for Arkansas residents is $8,224. Students can get a waiver for out-of-state tuition by living in housing owned or leased by UCA. Also, residents from certain counties contiguous to Arkansas can qualify for in-state tuition.

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (SD Mines) is a public science and engineering university located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The school boasts of a low 15:1 student to teacher ratio and an average undergraduate class size that is less than 20 students.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from SD Mines prepares students for careers in the industry. The program covers concepts such as finite structures, computer organization, and analysis of algorithms.

The estimated annual tuition and fees are $10,400 for South Dakota residents. Minnesota residents are eligible for in-state tuition by applying for the Minnesota Reciprocity program. New first-year students and transfer students from western states may be eligible for the reduced tuition and fees of $14,080 through the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program.

California University of Pennsylvania (Cal U) is a public institution that was founded in 1852. The campus is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in the borough of California, Pennsylvania. Cal U is one of the top schools in the Northeast, according to The Princeton Review’s 2017 college guide.

The program concludes with two senior project courses where students are introduced to software engineering. They study the history, terminology, and design principles of the field and then develop and implement their own software project.

The estimated yearly tuition and fees for Pennsylvania residents is $10,339.

Weber State University is a public university in Ogden, Utah. The school tied for 76th place in U.S. News’ 2017 rankings of regional universities in the West. Also, Weber State was named a “Green College” and a top school in the West in The Princeton Review’s 2017 college guide.

Program Overview

Weber State’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a 126 semester hour program that covers computing subjects including operating systems, object-oriented programming, and database programming.

The Weber State Computer Science Department employs various tutors to help students understand the concepts from their classes. Also, students have access to a Pluralsight account. Pluralsight is an education company which provides online video tutorials on technical topics.

The estimated annual tuition and fees for Utah residents is $5,523, a savings of $9,226.

The University of New Orleans, or UNO, is a public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana that was established in 1956. The school is classified as a doctoral university with higher research activity by CCIHE. UNO was included in The Princeton Review’s 2017 list of The Best 381 Colleges.

Program Overview

Students in UNO’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program can choose from three concentrations: bioinformatics, game development, or information assurance. Also, computer science majors have access to research opportunities and internships through the university’s partnerships with companies in the industry.

In U.S. News’ 2017 survey of high school guidance counselors, UNO was ranked 220th for the category of national universities. The school placed 299th in Washington Monthly’s 2016 ranking of national universities.

The estimated yearly tuition and fees for Louisiana residents is $8,484.

Established in 1909, Arkansas Tech University, or ATU, is a public institution in Russellville, Arkansas. The university ranked 97th in U.S. News’ 2017 list of top regional universities in the South. ATU placed 40th among public schools in the group.

Program Overview

ATU offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science that covers technical topics including data structures, computer networks, algorithm design, and systems analysis. The University is a top value school according to Washington Monthly’s 2016 college guide. The publisher rated the University 14th in the category of Best Bang for the Buck – South.

The estimated annual tuition and fees for Arkansas residents is $8,280. Also, students from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Texas receive waivers for the out-of-state tuition charge.

University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, or UW-Oshkosh, is a public, coeducational, state university located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In U.S. News’ 2017 ranking of regional universities in the Midwest, the school tied for 79th place. Among public institutions in the group, UW Oshkosh was ranked 19th.

Program Overview

UW-Oshkosh offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a computer science emphasis. Students enroll in courses including Mathematics for Computer Science, Programming Languages, and Compilers.

The estimated yearly tuition and fees for Wisconsin residents is $7,600. Minnesota residents who qualify for reciprocity benefits pay $8,338. Through the Midwest Student Exchange Program, residents from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska or North Dakota pay $10,750. UW-Oshkosh placed 93rd in Washington Monthly’s 2016 rankings for the category of Best Bang for the Buck – Midwest.

Westfield State University is a public, comprehensive university located in Westfield, Massachusetts. In its 2017 college rankings, U.S. News rated the school 118th for the category of Regional Universities-North. Westfield State placed 38th among public institutions in the category.

Program Overview

In Westfield State’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program, students get a well-rounded education with classes about digital electronics and technical writing along with learning about computing topics like software engineering and operating systems.

The university has on-campus internship opportunities including working with instructional technologists in the Center for Instructional Technology and maintaining computer networks with the Information Technology Department. Also, computer science majors may intern off-campus with private companies and public organizations.

Southern University and A&M College, or SU for short, is a public, historically black, research university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and founded in 1880. The institution was ranked 40th in U.S. News’ 2017 list of top historically black colleges and universities.

Program Overview

SU offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree program with four concentrations: cybersecurity, information systems, scientific, and mobile.

The program teaches computing topics including data networking, symbolic computation, and human-computer interaction. Computer science majors can choose from a variety of elective courses like Cloud Computing, Foundations of Cryptography, Networks and Graph Theory, and Distributed Processing.

Louisiana residents get a significant discount on annual tuition and fees. They pay an estimated $8,124 and save $7,350 each year.

Located in Washington, D.C., University of the District of Columbia, or UDC, is a public university established in 1851. It is a Tier 2 school according to U.S. News’ 2017 college rankings. UDC offers a low faculty to student ratio compared to other universities in the region.

Program Overview

UDC’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a 122 credit hour program with an emphasis on algorithms and math. Students take courses in data structures, web development, and software engineering. The program culminates with a senior project in the final year.

Students are classified as nonresidents until they apply and qualify for residency in Washington, D.C. or the surrounding metropolitan area. After qualification, residents of Washington, D.C. pay an estimated $7,844 annually for tuition and fees while metro residents pay $8,924.

Florida Memorial University is a private Baptist university located in Miami Gardens, Florida. The school is historically black and a member of the United Negro College Fund. Florida Memorial was rated 37th in the category, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, in U.S. News’ 2017 education rankings.

Program Overview

Florida Memorial offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science that requires 120 semester credits for completion. Core courses include Computer Organization, Artificial Intelligence, and Complexity & Analysis of Algorithms. Also, students must take classes in physics, calculus, and discrete math.

In its 2016 college guide, Washington Monthly ranked the university 38th and 75th in the categories, Best Bang for the Buck – Southeast and Baccalaureate Colleges, respectively. Florida Memorial placed 23rd in U.S. News’ 2017 ranking of regional colleges in the South.

Utah Valley University (UVU) is a public institution located in Orem, Utah. With a headcount of 34,978 in the Fall 2016 semester, UVU is the largest public university in Utah. The school offers over 150 programs – from diplomas and certificates to graduate degrees.

Program Overview

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program from UVU learn about foundational concepts in computing such as discrete math structures, operating systems theory, and database theory.

Computer science majors can specialize in one of two emphasis areas: computer science and computer networking. The first area includes coursework about artificial intelligence and compiler construction while the second area covers network programming and TCP/IP.

Utah residents get a huge discount on tuition and fees. They pay an estimated $5,530 each year, a savings of $10,160.

St. Cloud State University is a public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In U.S. News’ 2017 college rankings, the school was rated 115th in the category, Regional Universities Midwest. Among public institutions in the category, St. Cloud tied for 35th place.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from St. Cloud teaches students about data abstraction, binary trees, and other fundamental computing concepts. The university placed 75th in Washington Monthly’s 2016 ranking of schools in the category, Best Bang for the Buck – Midwest.

Minnesota and reciprocity residents (Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Manitoba) pay an estimated $7,910 for tuition and fees. Midwest residents (Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska) may be eligible for a reduction in tuition and fees ($11,320) through the Midwest Student Exchange Program.

Shippensburg University, or Ship, is a public University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The school placed 95th in U.S. News’ 2017 higher education ranking for the category of Regional Universities-North. Among public institutions in the category, Ship tied for 28th place.

Program Overview

Ship offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with three concentration options: computer graphics, embedded systems, and related discipline. Required courses include Compiler Design, Computer Networks, and Simulation Techniques. Students learn how to program in Java and C in the introductory classes.

Internships are available, and the faculty encourages students to participate in them. Computer science graduates and interns from Ship have worked in top companies such as American Airlines, General Electric, Google, and Volvo.

Salem State University, formerly known as Salem State College, is a public university located 15 miles north of Boston in Salem, Massachusetts. The school is home to 9,000 students, most of which are undergraduates. 91% of Salem State’s full-time faculty held terminal degrees in a 2015 survey.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Salem State requires 120 semester credits for completion. Students take core classes in software design and computer architecture and choose elective courses on advanced topics including embedded systems, parallel computing, and computation theory.

The program concludes with a capstone project course where students design and implement a substantial project and then present it to the computer science faculty.

The estimated annual tuition and fees for Massachusetts residents is $9,736, a savings of $6,412.

Fitchburg State University is a public institution of higher education in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a city approximately 50 miles from Boston. The school was founded in 1894. It enrolls around 7,000 students each year and offers over 30 undergraduate degree programs.

Program Overview

Fitchburg State’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a unique program because it includes classes about computer hardware along with classes about software programming.

Students learn about digital electronics, microprocessors, systems programming, and data structures and work with Windows, Unix, Linux, and cutting-edge database servers. Also, students can earn a game programming concentration by taking four courses in game programming and two courses on game design.

National University is a private, nonprofit university with multiple regional campuses in California. The school is headquartered in La Jolla, California. National has an annual enrollment of around 30,000 students, and over 150,000 students have graduated from its degree programs.

Program Overview

National’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science consists of 180 quarter credit hours. Students enroll in courses about discrete structures, algorithm design, and computer architecture. Also, they learn about C++ and Java, two of the most popular programming languages today.

The program concludes with two project courses, Computer Science Project I and II, where students create an original project based on the computing concepts they learned from previous classes.

National placed 86th in Washington Monthly’s 2016 ranking for the category of Best Bang for the Buck – West.

Grambling State University (GSU) is a public historically black university in Grambling, Louisiana. The school was ranked 40th in U.S. News’ 2017 ranking of historically black colleges and universities. GSU has an honors college named E.L. Cole Honors College for students with high academic achievement.

Program Overview

Student outcomes for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science of GSU include understanding the trade-offs between different algorithms, analyzing and defining the requirements for computing problems, and designing and implementing systems to meet company needs.

Grove City College is a private, Christian, liberal arts college located in Grove City, Pennsylvania. The institution refuses federal funding to protect its independence from federal government oversight over academics and finances. Grove City College is one of the few schools in the nation to refuse federal aid.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Grove City College is a 128 credit hour program with coursework in database management systems, event-driven programming, computer security, and computer graphics. Students are exposed to a variety of programming languages including C++, Smalltalk, and Swift.

The college placed 122nd in U.S. News’ 2017 ranking of national liberal arts colleges. Also, The Princeton Review included Grove City College in its 2017 lists of The Best 381 Colleges, Best Northeastern Colleges, and Colleges That Pay You Back.

Grand Valley State University, often referred to as GVSU, is a public, coeducational University in Allendale, Michigan. GVSU received the 27th ranking in U.S. News’ 2017 list of top regional universities in the Midwest. The University placed third among public institutions in the category.

Program Overview

Each student in GVSU’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program must complete an internship to graduate. The University prepares students for this experience with an internship preparation course.

GVSU was named a Best Midwestern College and a Green College in The Princeton Review’s 2017 higher education guide. The school was rated 54th in Washington Monthly’s 2016 ranking of master’s universities. The publisher also ranked GVSU 26th for the category of Best Bang for the Buck – Midwest.

The estimated yearly tuition and fees for Michigan residents is $11,832.

University of Wyoming (UW) is a coeducational, public, research university located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school is classified in the category of Doctoral Universities with Higher Research Activity by CCIHE. UW was also named one of The Best 381 Colleges in The Princeton Review’s 2017 U.S. college guide.

Program Overview

Students in UW’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree program can earn a concentration in business, big data, or international engineering. Core topics include programming, computer organization, software design, algorithms, and data structures.

UW placed 171st and 101st in the national university rankings of U.S. News (2017) and Washington Monthly (2016), respectively. The school also ranked 51st in Washington Monthly’s list of Best Bang for the Buck – Western Colleges.

University of Wisconsin – Stout, or UW-Stout, is public state university in Menomonie, Wisconsin. In 2007, the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System designated the school as “Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University.” UW-Stout ranked 69th in the category, Regional Universities Midwest, in U.S. News’ 2017 college rankings.

Program Overview

UW-Stout offers a Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development with a concentration in computer science. The university placed 15th in The Princeton Review’s ranking of undergraduate schools for game design.

The estimated annual tuition and fees are $9,395 for Wisconsin residents. Minnesota residents pay $9,726 after applying for reciprocity with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. Through the Midwest Student Exchange Program, students from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota may qualify for reduced tuition and fees of $12,735.